By Jason Hidalgo| RGJ
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While doing interviews at a Japanese daycare in Tokyo in 2005, one of the little punks — I mean, adorable little tykes — called me an "old man."
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Then again, there's a difference between being old and being old-school. Case in point, I look at three new games this week with an old-school vibe.
BUG'S LIFE: EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 2025
I must admit, I have a soft spot for campy movies.
If you lock me in a room with a copy of "Gravity" or the original "Robocop," I'll give you one guess which movie I'll be watching, citizen. Which brings us to "Earth Defense Force 2025." Like the film "Starship Troopers," the game has loads of camp oozing from its pores. From its dated graphics and frequent slowdown to its laughably hilarious voice acting and nonsensical story, EDF 2025 should be a bad game by any other definition. But it's not. Instead, it's the perfect example of camp done right in a videogame.
Set in a world threatened by giant insects, the game improves on the multiple class system from "Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon" while building on the solid gameplay of "Earth Defense Force 2017." The result is plenty of mindless insects, mindless shooting and mindless fun.
This time around, you can play as a Ranger, the tactical Air Rider, the flying Air Diver and the hulking Fencer. Each class plays quite differently, making the game feel like a new experience with each one. Enemies are also plentiful, attacking players with Zerg-like determination. Fortunately, so are your weapons, which come in various types and levels. You also can play solo, local co-op, or online with other players.
Presentation remains over the top from the B-movie acting to buildings that shatter like glass from your weapons. The game can be a bit of a grind, however, and has minimal instructions.
Still, if you like mindless action, EDF 2025 is the gaming equivalent of a popcorn flick.
Cost: $50; PS3, X360
YO-HO-HO: ONE PIECE ROMANCE DAWN
When it comes to JRPG pirating — and no, I'm not talking about pirating games — the classic "Skies of Arcadia" rules the crow's nest for yours truly. As such, "One Piece: Romance Dawn" presents an interesting conundrum.
For starters, videogames based on the wildly popular One Piece manga in Japan typically have stuck with action or fighting games so an RPG is a refreshing twist. Then again, Skies of Arcadia was so great that Romance Dawn is going up against some pretty colorful rose-colored glasses in my eyes for a pirate-based RPG.
Romance Dawn's gameplay itself uses the traditional turn-based mechanic of classic JRPGs. Characters have a set amount of action points to chain attacks, which include basic combos and supers. To further spice things up, Romance Dawn adds crafting system to make accessories for your One Piece "nakama," such as headwear, clothing and shoes. The story itself is based on the One Piece manga, starting all the way from Luffy's childhood.
Downsides include the lack of world exploration. You basically just move from dungeon to dungeon, which throws various grunts and level bosses at players, making the game feel repetitive after a while. In addition to not being able to save just anywhere, I've also seen glitches where an attacking character gets stuck behind a treasure chest.
Ultimately, "Romance Dawn" provides a quick pirate RPG fix for One Piece fans but doesn't come close to dethroning Skies of Arcadia.
Cost: $40, 3DS
TERRARIA DIGS WAY TO PLAYSTATION VITA
Looks aren't everything. It's an adage that rings true for videogames as well.
Exhibit A is "Minecraft," which lord knows I've gotten so many invites from friends and family to play with them. Then there's Terraria, an old-school style sandbox game that first popped up in PCs and has since made its way to consoles. The latest system to be graced with Terraria's presence? That would be Sony's PlayStation Vita.
At first glance, the game continues to have a homely look that would earn it many "bless your hearts" if it stepped foot in a Southern party. Even by the standards of classic 16-bit gaming, Terraria isn't much of a looker. What it does have, however, is substantive gameplay for fans of sandbox-style gaming.
By mixing adventuring, monster slaying and resource collecting as well as encouraging imagination for building structures both small and massive, Terraria serves up addicting gameplay for gamers who overlook its sparse presentation. The world itself is huge and filled with an assortment of creatures and treasures. Despite the loss of mouse functionality, controls are still good for the Vita. The added portability is also a plus.
There isn't much handholding by the game so beginners might feel lost initially. Once the system clicks, however, you'll likely be spending a lot of quality time with this old-school style title.
Cost: $15
